Information for Students

Undergraduate Studentsmay participate in Commencement on Sunday, May 17, 2015, if

You have completed 100 academic hours by the end of the fall 2014 semester,

ANDif you have submitted an Application for Degree to the Registrar's Office.

If you do not meet the 100 hour requirement but can show that you will be within 14 credits of completing your graduation requirements by the end of the spring 2015 semester, and that you will complete them by December 2015, you may apply for a waiver to participate in Commencement through the Registrar's Office. The deadline for waiver applications is March 1.

Graduate studentsmay participate in Commencement on Saturday, May 16, 2015, if

You will complete your degree requirements in

December 2014,

May 2015, or

August 2015

AND have submitted an Application for Degree to the Office of Graduate Studies.

By Friday, February 6

Your first step toward graduation is to make certain you meet all academic requirements. Here are some steps to follow to ensure you have completed all your requirements:

Plan to meet with your adviser soon to review your courses and requirements on BearDEN.

Undergraduate students should ﬁle the Application for Degree with the Registrar’s Office by Friday, February 6. The Undergraduate Application for Degree can be found online at the following link: http://www.potsdam.edu/offices/registrar/forms.cfm. You can confirm that your application has been received on BearPaws (Academic Transcript) and in BearDen (Graduation Status) 3 days after your application arrives in the Registrar’s Office.

The Application for Degree also reserves your seat at the Commencement ceremonies. If you ﬁle beyond the deadline listed above, we cannot guarantee that your name will be printed in the Commencement program.

Note: Your student account bill must be paid in full or deferred by Certified Financial Aid to allow the release of your transcripts, final grades and diploma.

March 26 – Grad Finale

The Grad Finale will be held on Thursday, March 26, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the lobby of the Barrington Student Union.

Bachelor’s and master’s students should purchase your cap and gown and visit tables with a number of campus representatives including Financial Aid, Registrar's Office, Student Gift Committee, Alumni Association, Career Planning, Commencement Committee, Bursar's Office, The College Store and Jostens.

If you ordered graduation regalia online before March 20, 2015 and requested Pick up @ Store, it will be available during Grad Finale.

Personalized announcements, which include name, degree and major, are available from Jostens at the Grad Finale in the Student Union or online at www.jostens.com. There is no order deadline, but allow three weeks for delivery.

Tickets are not required for the graduate ceremony or the outdoor undergraduate ceremony. In the event of severe weather the outdoor undergraduate ceremony will be moved inside. Due to limited seating, tickets will be required for this emergency ceremony. Each student will receive 5 tickets at the Grad Finale.

In April …

Undergraduate students who have earned at least a 3.25 cumulative average after completing 100 academic semester hours (exclusive of physical education), 45 of these at SUNY Potsdam, by the end of the fall 2014 semester, are eligible to wear a College honors cord (silver), available for purchase through The College Store.

Cum Laude (3.25-3.49): maroon tassel

Magna Cum Laude (3.5-3.74): silver tassel

Summa cum laude (3.75+) maroon and silver tassel

All others: black

Graduate students who have earned at least a 3.9 cumulative average are eligible to wear a College honors cord (gold), available for purchase through The College Store.

To obtain a College honors cord, your name must be listed with an honors designation on BearPAWS on the May Graduation Ceremony page.

Commencement Program

To be listed in the Commencement program, undergraduates should have submitted an Application to Graduate at the Registrar's Office, 3rd floor of Raymond Hall, and graduate students should have submitted an Application to Graduate at the Office of Graduate Studies in Satterlee Hall 116. You may confirm that your application has been received on BearPaws (Academic Transcript) and in BearDen (Graduation Status).

If you have not applied yet, please do so immediately. If you apply before April 1, your name will appear in the program. If you apply after April 1, your name will not appear in the program, but you may still participate in the Commencement ceremony.

If you have applied by April 1, you can check your Commencement program name, degree, major(s), and college honors on BearPAWS on the May Graduation Ceremony page.

On April 1

A limited number of on-campus rooms will be available for Commencement guests. Housing reservations may be made starting on Wednesday, April 1 after 9 a.m.

Reservations can be made in person at the Residence Life Office in Draime Hall Extension – first floor, or by calling (315) 267-3270.

No reservations will be accepted before Wednesday, April 1.

On-campus Commencement housing is for Saturday, May 16, 2015 to Sunday, May 17, 2015.

Room rates are:

Double: $50.00 per night

Single: $40.00 per night

As space is very limited, rooms will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis in a traditional residence hall (twin beds, no private baths).

In early April …

If you have a Federal Perkins Loan or Federal Stafford Loan, you must complete an Exit Interview session.

The Office of Student Accounts will contact you regarding Federal Perkins Loans.

The Office of Financial Aid will forward instructions for completion of the online Exit Interviews for Federal Stafford Loans.

Non-Crane undergraduates who have applied for May graduation will receive a Graduation Status check through email by early May.

If you have questions, meet with your adviser or contact the Registrar’s Office in Raymond Hall, 313.

By April 16

Clear all holds by Thursday, April 17. The College will withhold your transcript and diploma until your obligations are satisfied.

Make sure your parking tickets are paid.

Library books, keys and borrowed College equipment should be returned.

By May 8

Students who are physically challenged and require special arrangements should contact Eric Duchscherer at duchsced@potsdam.edu or (315) 267-2350.

The Graduation Baccalaureate Service is Friday, May 8, 2015 at 5 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Potsdam. The Baccalaureate Service is a joined event between SUNY Potsdam and Clarkson University and is open to students and families of all faiths. If you would like to read a selection from your faith and spiritual traditions at the service, please contact Tamera Rizk at trizk@clarkson.edu or (315) 268-6680.

May 11-16

Your cap and gown will be available for pick up at The College Store as follows:

Between Monday, May 11 and Friday, May 15 from Noon to 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Undergraduates will receive 5 tickets to the emergency weather ceremony when you pick up your cap and gown. No tickets are required for the Master’s Ceremony or outdoor Bachelor’s Ceremony.

Childcare: If you or a guest requires childcare during the ceremony you must register your child by calling (315) 267-2100. Children will be provided with snacks and beverages. This is a free service. Please notify caregivers if your child has allergies or other health concerns.

By May 16

Contact the Student Mailroom if you will be continuing with your studies at the College AND would like to maintain your current mailbox number and address. The College will relinquish the box to another student after Commencement if no contact is made.

8:30 a.m.- Doors open to guests at Hosmer Hall (no tickets are required)

8:30 a.m. - Childcare available in the Crane Commons until noon. Childcare is free, but you must register your child by calling (315) 267-2100. Children will be provided with snacks and beverages. Please notify caregivers if your child has allergies or other health concerns.

Before 8:45 a.m. - Crane, Bishop Hall - C101 and C107
Master's Students Line Up. Faculty and staff volunteers will be there to guide and assist graduates with lining up and processional instructions.

9:15 a.m. - Procession begins to move toward Hosmer Hall

9:30 a.m., Hosmer Concert Hall
Master's Ceremony Begins

Reception will take place immediately following the PAC Lobby.

Special Accommodations

Students who are physically challenged and require special arrangements should contact Eric Duchscherer at duchsced@potsdam.edu or (315) 267-2350.

Seating for guests who are physically challenged or require special accommodations will be available. There will be a sign language interpreter on the Commencement stage.

Decorum

Commencement is an important occasion for all of us and, as such, the ceremony should be formal and dignified. Guests and graduates are reminded that the consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited. Anyone found to have alcoholic beverages in their possession during the program will be asked to leave. Also, noisemakers and other distractions will not be permitted.

Guests and graduates are also asked to remain seated until the ceremony is completed, in deference to those graduates who are last to cross the stage.

All Bachelor’s graduates must wear a cap and gown. All Master’s Graduate must wear a cap, gown and hood. Students may purchase them through The College Store (315) 267-2573.

Photography

The College has retained the services of a commercial photographer, and participants will be photographed as they shake hands with the President and cross the stage. Graduates will receive a color proof of their photograph, which will be sent to their home address, unless you request that we keep that information confidential. Graduates may place orders but are not obligated to do so.

The ceremony will take place at 10:15 a.m. in the Academic Quad – Rain or Shine

Please dress and tell your guests to dress appropriately for the weather conditions. The ceremony will be outside unless there are severe or extreme weather conditions. There will be an option for guests who are uncomfortable with the weather conditions to watch the ceremony on a large screen inside, in the Multi-purpose Room of the Barrington Student Union.

Outside seating will be available, but guests are welcome to bring lawn chairs. An unlimited number of guests may attend The Outside Ceremony.

9:00 a.m.
Childcare available in the Merritt Hall Gymnasium until 1:00 p.m. Childcare is free, but you must register your child by calling (315) 267-2100. Children will be provided with snacks and beverages. Please notify caregivers if your child has allergies or other health concerns.

Before 9:30 a.m., East Side of the Crumb Library (between the library and Merritt Hall)
Undergraduate processional instructions and line up.

Students who are physically challenged and require special arrangements should contact Eric Duchscherer at duchsced@potsdam.edu or (315) 267-2350.

Seating for guests who are physically challenged or require special accommodations will be available. There will be a sign language interpreter on the Commencement stage.

Please Note: Some care should be given to decisions about whether to invite very elderly or infirm guests to the bachelor’s ceremony. The outdoor ceremony exposes people to the elements. Very limited seating will be available in the Multi-purpose Room of the Barrington Student Union where those who cannot tolerate the elements will be able to see the ceremony on a large screen.

Decorum

Commencement is an important occasion for all of us, and, as such, the ceremony should be formal and dignified. Guests and graduates are reminded that the consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited. Anyone found to have alcoholic beverages in their possession during the program will be asked to leave. Also, noisemakers and other distractions will not be permitted.

Please do NOT bring pets.

Guests and graduates are also asked to remain seated until the ceremony is completed, in deference to those graduates who are last to cross the stage.
All graduates must wear a cap and gown. Students may purchase them through The College Store (315) 267-2573.

The College has retained the services of a commercial photographer, and participants will be photographed as they shake hands with the President and cross the stage. Graduates will receive a color proof of their photograph, which will be sent to their home address, unless you request that we keep that information confidential. Graduates may place orders but are not obligated to do so.